Jon Jones on Conor McGregor: ‘Fights like this will help fighters in the future’

LAS VEGAS — It wasn’t long ago that Jon Jones was persona non grata in the UFC.

Just three years ago, Jones felt the weight of the organization come down hard on him for his refusal to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Chael Sonnen on short notice at UFC 151. The UFC ultimately cancelled the event, and in a scathing subsequent media call, UFC president Dana White proclaimed UFC 151 to be “the event Jon Jones and Greg Jackson murdered.”

So it should come as no surprise that Jones, more so than anyone else in attendance at UFC 197’s open workouts, could relate to what UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is going through.

“Hats off to him for standing up for what he believes is right,” Jones said of the McGregor, just a day after the UFC pulled McGregor from UFC 200’s main event opposite Nate Diaz.

“At the end of the day, business is business, and the guy obviously has respect for himself and his talents. Fights like this will help fighters in the future. So, I respect his …

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